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"At Home We Work Together": Domestic Feminism and Patriarchy in Little Women.

Creator

Wester, Bethany S., Moore, Dennis, Edwards, Leigh, Fenstermaker, John, Program in American and Florida Studies, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

For 136 years, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women has remained a classic in American children's literature. Although Alcott originally wrote the novel as a book for young girls, deeper issues run beneath the surface story of the March family. This thesis explores a few of these issues. Chapter One examines the roles of patriarchy and domesticity in Alcott's private life and in Little Women. Chapter Two emphasizes the Transcendentalist thinking that surrounded Alcott in her childhood, her own,... Show moreFor 136 years, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women has remained a classic in American children's literature. Although Alcott originally wrote the novel as a book for young girls, deeper issues run beneath the surface story of the March family. This thesis explores a few of these issues. Chapter One examines the roles of patriarchy and domesticity in Alcott's private life and in Little Women. Chapter Two emphasizes the Transcendentalist thinking that surrounded Alcott in her childhood, her own, feminized Transcendentalist philosophy, and how it subsequently infiltrates the novel. Chapter Three explores the role of the struggling female artist in Little Women, as portrayed by the March sisters, especially Jo and Amy March, and how the fictional characters' struggles reflect Alcott's own problems as a female writer in a patriarchal society. Chapter Four discusses Alcott's reformist ideas and the reformist issues that surface in Little Women. Domestic feminism--the idea that a reformed family, in which men and women equally participate in domestic matters, would lead to a reformed society--emerges as the predominant reformist issue in Little Women. Alcott believed that women should be able to choose the course of their adult lives, whether that included marriage, a professional career, or otherwise, without the threat of being ostracized from society. In Little Women, the March family serves as an example of a reformed, egalitarian family in which women exercise self-reliance, employ their non-domestic talents, and still maintain femininity. Show less

Date Issued

2005

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-1144

Format

Thesis

Title

“Laborers Together with God”: Civilian Public Service and Public Health in the South during World War II.

During World War II, the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 required conscientious objectors (COs) who opposed any form of military service to perform "work of national importance under civilian direction." The program that carried out this alternative service was the Civilian Public Service (CPS), in which approximately 12,000 pacifists served at 151 camps established across the nation during the war. Some of those camps were in Florida and Mississippi, where CPS men worked with... Show moreDuring World War II, the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 required conscientious objectors (COs) who opposed any form of military service to perform "work of national importance under civilian direction." The program that carried out this alternative service was the Civilian Public Service (CPS), in which approximately 12,000 pacifists served at 151 camps established across the nation during the war. Some of those camps were in Florida and Mississippi, where CPS men worked with state and local public health authorities to combat diseases that plagued the South's poor, including hookworm and malaria. Though an advance over previous options for COs, CPS was not always well-received, by either the American people or the men who served within it. This dissertation will examine the camps in Florida and Mississippi to assess the success (or lack thereof) of the CPS alternative service program during the war, and also to explore the larger question of how well the United States upholds and protects the right of its citizens (particularly, nonconformist citizens) during a time of national crisis. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_2015fall_Tomlinson_fsu_0071E_12875

Format

Thesis

Title

‘Our Bonaparte?’: Republicanism, Religion, and Paranoia in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, 1789-1830.

"‘Our Bonaparte’: Republicanism, Religion, and Paranoia in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, 1789-1830," examines how American politicians used the idea of Napoleon Bonaparte to reflect (or distort) contemporary political issues in the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas of the United States. It shows how Napoleon became a standard piece of political imagery to either support or attack specific political beliefs and opinions during the first three decades of the nineteenth century, depending... Show more"‘Our Bonaparte’: Republicanism, Religion, and Paranoia in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, 1789-1830," examines how American politicians used the idea of Napoleon Bonaparte to reflect (or distort) contemporary political issues in the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas of the United States. It shows how Napoleon became a standard piece of political imagery to either support or attack specific political beliefs and opinions during the first three decades of the nineteenth century, depending on which political faction was discussing Bonaparte at the time. Show less

This study examines clergy in colonial New England and how they depicted dead bodies in their funeral sermons. Whether it was second generation Puritan ministers like William Hubbard and Samuel Willard, or third generation ministers like Benjamin Colman and Benjamin Wadsworth, ministers imagined their resting subjects as a "pillar," "shield," "withering grass," or "vapor." I argue their language of the body, such as the use of specific terms within certain contexts, reflected social and... Show moreThis study examines clergy in colonial New England and how they depicted dead bodies in their funeral sermons. Whether it was second generation Puritan ministers like William Hubbard and Samuel Willard, or third generation ministers like Benjamin Colman and Benjamin Wadsworth, ministers imagined their resting subjects as a "pillar," "shield," "withering grass," or "vapor." I argue their language of the body, such as the use of specific terms within certain contexts, reflected social and religious trends in New England, from its Puritan origins to its welcoming of moderate Christianity in the eighteenth-century. Chapter Two observes Puritan funeral sermons and their relation to King Philip's War and second generation perception of natural depravity. Chapter Three discusses funeral sermons and their reflection of the third generation's shift toward English intellectualism and religious optimism. In conclusion, I argue funeral sermons and their generational developments spoke to more than specific superlatives of the dead. With the body of the dead as their canvas, New England ministers illustrated prevailing mentalities about religious and cultural thought. They spoke to how authority was mediated and to what extent human nature could be trusted. New England clergy entered into public discourse about the inherent abilities, or disabilities, their congregations were defined by. Through their imaginative definitions of dead bodies, they ventured to define survivors and their place in the Church. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_2017SP_Adkins_fsu_0071N_13875

Format

Thesis

Title

Activism amid a Chaotic Era: The Underground Press of the 1960S.

Creator

Nelson, Hope, Jumonville, Neil, Fenstermaker, John, Coxwell-Teague, Deborah, Program in American and Florida Studies, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

This thesis addresses the major activist and radical issues of the 1960s and early 1970s and illustrates the myriad shifts that take place within each of these social movements as depicted in the alternative press of the era. These movements serve as reflections of the shift of the collective American character throughout the 1960s, and while they propel America to adjust to new mindsets, they also reflect the desires – and fears – of a nation thrust into a chaotic postwar period. But despite... Show moreThis thesis addresses the major activist and radical issues of the 1960s and early 1970s and illustrates the myriad shifts that take place within each of these social movements as depicted in the alternative press of the era. These movements serve as reflections of the shift of the collective American character throughout the 1960s, and while they propel America to adjust to new mindsets, they also reflect the desires – and fears – of a nation thrust into a chaotic postwar period. But despite their differences in goals and ideologies, the major movements of the era – the struggles for civil rights, women's rights, and peace in the face of war – bring with them many similarities, more than many historians are wont to depict. So often, such historians focus solely on one of the activist movements of the 1960s, seemingly overlooking other events of the decades that could perhaps be catalysts or results of a particular movement's actions. But the groups that formed and the events that took place within the decade did so with a high degree of interconnectedness, even in ways that are not readily apparent initially. This mentality is illustrated quite clearly within the alternative newspapers of the era. Specifically, the bylines and subjects showing up in a forum for one activist movement often echo those from other publications and other movements. More generally, the motives, tactics, and even slogans made successful by one movement often were employed by activists in other realms, adding much to the collective ideological shifts of the era. Through the alternative press, it is easy to see the tendencies toward chaos even within the movements themselves; rarely does a neat and tidy chronology of progression exist. These newspapers chronicled the transformations taking place with the times – indeed, a shift from semantics to activism, from a more passive ideology to one that was vibrant with action. But such shifts are not easily decipherable and are nestled among shades of gray rather than being decidedly black and white. And it is those gray areas, those areas of confusion, tension, frustration, and joy, that this thesis analyzes. Show less

Date Issued

2004

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-2684

Format

Thesis

Title

All I Need Is the Air I Breathe: Music, Media, and the Practice of Collegiate A Cappella.

Collegiate a cappella is a communal singing tradition historically localized to universities in the United States. It is a genre whose practitioners explore vocal harmonies and the imitation of instruments solely through use of the human voice and without instrumental accompaniment. In its contemporary manifestation, collegiate a cappella has become a powerful cultural force and is the primary way thousands of students and their diverse audiences engage with music daily. With the ever... Show moreCollegiate a cappella is a communal singing tradition historically localized to universities in the United States. It is a genre whose practitioners explore vocal harmonies and the imitation of instruments solely through use of the human voice and without instrumental accompaniment. In its contemporary manifestation, collegiate a cappella has become a powerful cultural force and is the primary way thousands of students and their diverse audiences engage with music daily. With the ever-increasing number of dramatized or semi-dramatized depictions of the genre, its presence in American popular media extends far beyond the university sphere. In this thesis I explore the contemporary practice of collegiate a cappella, the simultaneously negotiated and contested spaces of the genre's practice and performance, and its transformation through mass-mediatization. My primary collaborators in this process are the members of All-Night Yahtzee, a co-ed collegiate a cappella from Florida State University. Drawing on a combination of historical investigation, performance observation, media and textual analysis, and ethnography, I investigate style and space in collegiate a cappella practice, situating the genre within Manuel Castells's network society model. I then draw on the work of Michel Foucault to explore popular dramatized portrayals of collegiate a cappella, arguing that despite their popularity, most televised and filmic depictions create problematic representations of the genre by presenting a utopian vision of a fundamentally heterotopian practice. These distorted renderings of collegiate a cappella influence the genre's global network, shaping the experience of both participants and audiences alike. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_2017SP_Griffin_fsu_0071N_13894

Format

Thesis

Title

The American Library Association Liberty and Justice Book Awards.

Creator

Murphy, John J. S., Srygley, Sara Krentzman, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

The purpose of this paper is to present background information related to the establishment of the American Library Association Liberty and Justice Book Awards program; to give a factual description of the awards program including criteria for selection, specifications, and procedures; to compile critical comments on the awards program as found in professional literature; to describe the award-winning books; to analyze reviewers' criticisms of the award-winning books, as available in the... Show moreThe purpose of this paper is to present background information related to the establishment of the American Library Association Liberty and Justice Book Awards program; to give a factual description of the awards program including criteria for selection, specifications, and procedures; to compile critical comments on the awards program as found in professional literature; to describe the award-winning books; to analyze reviewers' criticisms of the award-winning books, as available in the major book-reviewing media; to describe the authors receiving the awards; and to report on comments of the authors receiving the awards, in relation to their opinions concerning the values and results of the awards program"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1960

Identifier

FSU_akd9319

Format

Thesis

Title

The American Revolution Bicentennial in Florida State Authority, Grassroots Organizing, and the Creation of Memory and Patriotic Comemmoration.

The American Revolution Bicentennial in Florida: State Authority, Grassroots Organizing, and the Creation of Memory and Patriotic Commemoration examines the ways in which the national bicentennial was celebrated in Florida. Using a cultural historical approach, this thesis looks at how government officials, politicians, and private citizens constructed patriotic historical narratives during a time of heightened social and political divisiveness. Doing so illuminates the ways in which... Show moreThe American Revolution Bicentennial in Florida: State Authority, Grassroots Organizing, and the Creation of Memory and Patriotic Commemoration examines the ways in which the national bicentennial was celebrated in Florida. Using a cultural historical approach, this thesis looks at how government officials, politicians, and private citizens constructed patriotic historical narratives during a time of heightened social and political divisiveness. Doing so illuminates the ways in which Floridians adapted consensus narratives of history to contemporary political needs. Furthermore, this thesis examines the legacy of the national bicentennial on the practice of patriotic commemoration and remembrance in the United States today. The records of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Florida serve as the chief source of material for this thesis. These records are housed at the State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee, and include institutional records, American Revolution Bicentennial Administration literature, newspaper articles, and tourism brochures. Each of these pieces are vitally important to analyzing the dialectic of commemoration between government officials and the public throughout the 1970s. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_2017SP_Belcher_fsu_0071N_13749

Format

Thesis

Title

An analysis of a selected list of books of historical fiction that have developmental values for the intermediate grades.

Creator

Allen, Margaret Louise, Gregory, Agnes, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to explore some of those books included in several literary selection tools in order to determine whether they present the needs of children and the satisfaction of those needs in terms of experiences showing developmental values of a social and ethical nature. To recognize that a certain youngster needs more self-confidence, to give him a book in which the hero is beset by the same situation and overcomes it, and then to sit back with the calm... Show more"It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to explore some of those books included in several literary selection tools in order to determine whether they present the needs of children and the satisfaction of those needs in terms of experiences showing developmental values of a social and ethical nature. To recognize that a certain youngster needs more self-confidence, to give him a book in which the hero is beset by the same situation and overcomes it, and then to sit back with the calm expectation of seeing a miracle wrought would be optimistic to the point of simple-mindedness. All that the librarian can do is to present the book to the child in the hope that he will absorb some help from his reading and thus be encouraged to solve his problems successfully"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1958

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9730

Format

Thesis

Title

An analysis of the idea of cooperative planning in the elementary school.

Creator

Mears, John M., Dean, Harris William, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

In this study the writer intends to examine the literature on the purposes of the school and society as they are served by cooperative planning, select some of the best that has been said in regards to cooperative planing and to point up pathways to future growth through cooperative planning.

Date Issued

1950

Identifier

FSU_historic_alb4235

Format

Thesis

Title

An analysis of the selections of the first year of the Book-of-the-Month Club.

Creator

Jordan, Marjorie Fulton, Clapp, Robert George, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

In 1926 the Book-of-the-Month Club sent its first selection to 4,750 members. Twenty three years later the club had 4,000,000 members, had distributed over 100,000,000 books, and was one of sixty such clubs operating in the United States. Much discussion has taken place and many articles have been written during this period relative to the merits of these organizations. The attacks have been made largely on the following points: (1) the organization was foisting on the public in dictatorial... Show moreIn 1926 the Book-of-the-Month Club sent its first selection to 4,750 members. Twenty three years later the club had 4,000,000 members, had distributed over 100,000,000 books, and was one of sixty such clubs operating in the United States. Much discussion has taken place and many articles have been written during this period relative to the merits of these organizations. The attacks have been made largely on the following points: (1) the organization was foisting on the public in dictatorial fashion prescribed reading; (2) emphasis was placed on economy, rather than the excellence of the book; (3) the young or unknown author was unable to compete with authors of established reputations; (4) a few favored publishers were receiving club's business and would force smaller and newer firms out of business; (5) retail book stores were losing sales because club members were paying less than retail prices; and (6) the book clubs were lowering the public taste. Time has weakened many of these arguments and the fears have proved groundless. But the final charge relative to the lowering of public taste still remains current and debatable. The criticism on this point has been bitter and is one of great interest to the librarian. For this reason the purpose of this paper is to try to adjudge the validity of that contention by examining and analyzing the selections of one of the clubs for a limited period in order to see the quality of the selections as evidenced by the evaluations of critics, both at the time of the publications of the books and at the present time. Show less

Cement skyscrapers, the smell of automobile exhaust, turned down faces of strangers. New York City during the Great Depression was at odds with the founding fathers' vision of America as a shining City Upon a Hill. Anna Sokolow's feelings about the modern urban landscape, the deadening isolation that often accompanies it, and its forsaken twentieth century anti-hero inspired her to create her celebrated and influential 1955 piece, Rooms. In this dance, Sokolow explores the uncanny loneliness... Show moreCement skyscrapers, the smell of automobile exhaust, turned down faces of strangers. New York City during the Great Depression was at odds with the founding fathers' vision of America as a shining City Upon a Hill. Anna Sokolow's feelings about the modern urban landscape, the deadening isolation that often accompanies it, and its forsaken twentieth century anti-hero inspired her to create her celebrated and influential 1955 piece, Rooms. In this dance, Sokolow explores the uncanny loneliness that can affect those living in close quarters to others, specifically in busy, gritty, urban post-war America. During the first half of the twentieth century dancemakers and artists alike were creating a growing body of work that we can now refer to as Americana. These were works that self-consciously drew upon a wide range of American themes and stereotypes. While the politics and aesthetics of Americana are diverse, including work based on such themes as the American Frontier, and African American heritage, this thesis explores Rooms as a case study of a sub-genre I refer to as Dystopic Americana. This thesis represents the use of the Labanotation score of Rooms and historical research. I begin with introductory and contextual information about the study in general and Rooms specifically, followed by a general definition of Americana. I then explore three broad types of Americana: Mythic America, the African American Experience, and Dystopic America. Sokolow's Rooms is a work of Dystopic Americana. I then go on to explain three major themes characteristic of Dystopic Americana and present in Rooms: the modern, urban landscape, isolation and loneliness, and the anti-hero. From these investigations I draw conclusions about the experience of embodied research and argue for the synthesis of history and dance reconstruction as a model of best practices in the field. Show less

Date Issued

2014

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9227

Format

Thesis

Title

An annotated bibliography of American biography for correlation with eleventh grade American history.

"This annotated bibliography of American biography has been compiled to be used in correlation with the units in the teaching of eleventh grade American history as presented in the Social Studies Bulletin prepared for the Secondary Schools of Florida through the leadership of the Florida State Education Department. This bibliography could serve as a guide to the selection of biographies by history teachers or librarians and as a supplementary reading list for pupils. It is assumed that it may... Show more"This annotated bibliography of American biography has been compiled to be used in correlation with the units in the teaching of eleventh grade American history as presented in the Social Studies Bulletin prepared for the Secondary Schools of Florida through the leadership of the Florida State Education Department. This bibliography could serve as a guide to the selection of biographies by history teachers or librarians and as a supplementary reading list for pupils. It is assumed that it may be of special help to those teachers of eleventh grade American history who previously have taught the course as if it were just an extension of eighth grade United States history, but who now wish to increase hemispheric solidarity by including, in the eleventh grade course, those experiences relating to Canada and Latin America"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1953

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9734

Format

Thesis

Title

An annotated bibliography of American biography for correlation with the social studies program for junior high school.

Creator

Moore, Valona, Gregory, Agnes, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The social studies are a very important aspect of the present day curriculum. But the past in order to have meaning for this generation must be re-interpreted by them in terms of their environmental, moral, social, economic, and political needs. Thus historical knowledge gives perspective and serves as a point of departure for building today and tomorrow's practices in government, religion, and social living. Reading about the lives of leaders in various realms of American life can make... Show more"The social studies are a very important aspect of the present day curriculum. But the past in order to have meaning for this generation must be re-interpreted by them in terms of their environmental, moral, social, economic, and political needs. Thus historical knowledge gives perspective and serves as a point of departure for building today and tomorrow's practices in government, religion, and social living. Reading about the lives of leaders in various realms of American life can make history more enjoyable as well as more realistic. As a librarian the writer would like to see biography used more widely as a correlative material to stimulate greater interest in the social studies. Consequently the purpose of this paper is: (1) to suggest the value of biography in developing desirable social concepts and democratic principles which will benefit the student in his daily living as well as make it possible for him to become a better citizen of tomorrow's world; and (2) to suggest biographies suitable for correlation with junior high school social studies"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1951

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9293

Format

Thesis

Title

The audio-visual situation in pharmaceutical libraries.

Creator

Murray, John Francis, Mitchell, John W., Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this paper is to report on a study of the position, value, and limitations of audio-visual materials in the pharmaceutical type of special library having membership in the Science-Technology group of the Special Libraries Association. The author has a natural interest in the pharmaceutical industry by association first with the production area and later with the pharmaceutical library of one of the members of the group. Interest in the audio-visual field was quickened by study... Show more"The purpose of this paper is to report on a study of the position, value, and limitations of audio-visual materials in the pharmaceutical type of special library having membership in the Science-Technology group of the Special Libraries Association. The author has a natural interest in the pharmaceutical industry by association first with the production area and later with the pharmaceutical library of one of the members of the group. Interest in the audio-visual field was quickened by study while at library school, with realization of the implications of audio-visual endeavor for science and the technical library"--Introduction. Show less

Interservice rivalry between the United States' military services during the Second World War often proved problematic. Although the Americans and their allies emerged victorious from the conflict, they did so in part due to the even worse rivalries between the military services of the German and Japanese armies. These problems that came to a head during the war had a lasting effect on the military structure that continues to be felt to this day. The present structure of the American military... Show moreInterservice rivalry between the United States' military services during the Second World War often proved problematic. Although the Americans and their allies emerged victorious from the conflict, they did so in part due to the even worse rivalries between the military services of the German and Japanese armies. These problems that came to a head during the war had a lasting effect on the military structure that continues to be felt to this day. The present structure of the American military is the result of decades of efforts to unify the services, which culminated with the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act. However, whereas most studies of the subject place the Cold War as the central, defining factor of the unification of the defense structure, my work argues that it was not tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union that created the foundations of the semi-joint American national security state, but instead the lessons of the Second World War. The conflicts between the Army and the Navy in the Pacific Theater provided the impetus for efforts to unify the services. Those same conflicts also led to a much less unified result than had originally been hoped for by the proponents of unification, which is, in part, the reason the unification process lasted so long after the passage of the National Security Act. Show less

Date Issued

2019

Identifier

2019_Summer_Gates_fsu_0071E_15169

Format

Thesis

Title

Birthing Bodies and Doctrine: The Natural Philosophy of Generation and the Evangelical Theology of Regeneration in the Early Modern Atlantic World.

In the Atlantic world of the eighteenth century, revivalists in Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean centered their theology around the doctrine of the new birth. The new birth was the unifying, if contested, theme of the transatlantic revivals. Although prominent evangelical theologians like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and Nikolaus von Zinzendorf each conceptualized rebirth a little differently, the surprising unity of the doctrine across geographic and institutional... Show moreIn the Atlantic world of the eighteenth century, revivalists in Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean centered their theology around the doctrine of the new birth. The new birth was the unifying, if contested, theme of the transatlantic revivals. Although prominent evangelical theologians like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and Nikolaus von Zinzendorf each conceptualized rebirth a little differently, the surprising unity of the doctrine across geographic and institutional boundaries stemmed from the fact that they all sought to ground the spiritual metaphor of the new birth in the natural philosophy of childbirth. Before the early modern Atlantic world saw a sudden increase of this evangelical preaching on the doctrine of the rebirth, there was a sudden increase of writings by natural philosophers on new findings about conception and childbirth. This seventeenth-century fascination among natural philosophers with the process of "generation," as it was called, led to the eighteenth-century preoccupation with "regeneration" among evangelical leaders. Edwards, Wesley and Zinzendorf were each exposed to the mechanism of Descartes, the empiricism of Locke, and the theory of preformationism at early ages, long before their theological systems had solidified. Employing this natural philosophy of generation was not simply a way to legitimize the idea of the new birth; it was the method by which this doctrine was produced. The main question of this dissertation, then, is one of epistemology: where do religious knowledge and values come from? How is a theological doctrine formed? As this case study of the new birth shows, theology is oftentimes produced from the body--from embodied experiences, bodily metaphors, and empirical information about the body. Bodies--as much as sacred texts, charismatic leaders, ecclesiastical institutions, etc.--are sites of religious values and truths. The experience of being born again, Edwards, Wesley and Zinzendorf agreed, was instantaneous and sometimes accompanied by convulsions of the body and terrors of the mind as in the pangs of childbirth. To learn about the spiritual mechanisms of this new birth experience, one could study the physical process of childbirth as explained by natural philosophers. Revivalism relied heavily on enlightenment philosophy for the development of its values and worldview, and in turn enlightenment movements relied on transatlantic revivalism for the transmission of its ideas to those who would not otherwise have had access to them. Evangelical preachers like Edwards, Wesley and Zinzendorf were the cultural mediators between what Wesley called "plain people" and natural philosophers like Malebranche, Descartes, and Locke. The sermons and treatises written by these preachers were the medium through which knowledge about the natural and supernatural worlds was conveyed. Rather than viewing evangelicalism as opposed to the heady intellectualism of enlightenment empiricism, this dissertation shows how these revivalists consistently drew from the findings of natural philosophy in the creation of their theology. For them, the body was a site for the formation of such theological knowledge. Early modern natural philosophy put human bodies into discourse, transforming bodies from an experiential reality into a natural phenomenon worthy of academic study. This in turn opened up the body as a site of theological inquiry for clergy across the Atlantic who believed that divine truths could be gleaned from the natural world. Several of these clergy birthed the first evangelical movement by translating the natural philosophy of childbirth into a streamlined metaphor that both united those who had had the experience of the new birth and radically divided them from those who had not. If the body was the epistemology that revivalists drew knowledge from, then religion was the medium through which such knowledge was conveyed. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9341

Format

Thesis

Title

A brief history of church libraries in America, together with a survey of church libraries in a section of the Riverside area of Jacksonville, Florida.

Creator

Anderson, Margaret C., Clapp, Robert George, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"This writer in considering types of special libraries in the United States discovered that a large new movement was taking place--one that in the last ten years had resulted in the organization of thousands of new libraries. Curiosity resulting from this discovery has led to the preparation of this paper. In it is given, first, a cursory background summary of the movement which indicates that the church library movement is not a new one, but had its beginnings in colonial times; and, second,... Show more"This writer in considering types of special libraries in the United States discovered that a large new movement was taking place--one that in the last ten years had resulted in the organization of thousands of new libraries. Curiosity resulting from this discovery has led to the preparation of this paper. In it is given, first, a cursory background summary of the movement which indicates that the church library movement is not a new one, but had its beginnings in colonial times; and, second, an analysis of how the movement of date has been reflected in the program of the churches of the writer's home community"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1952

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9363

Format

Thesis

Title

Certain selected court decisions which have affected education.

Creator

Noles, Ralph J., Dean, Harris William, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this paper is to make a study of some of the Supreme Court decisions that have affected education. The cases to be cited are the ones thought to be of most value to the writer in the field of school administration. No attempt has been made to show all the court decisions which have influenced education. Cases from the United States Supreme Court and cases from several of the various State Supreme Courts have been selected and studied"--Introduction.

Date Issued

1951

Identifier

FSU_historic_akp4975

Format

Thesis

Title

Characteristics of unmarried mothers born in Spanish American countries and the United States, Catholic Welfare Bureau, Incorporated, Miami, Florida April 30, 1951 - May 1, 1960.

Creator

Kemple, David P., Greene, John, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there were significant differences in data collected by a schedule of selected items applied to the case records of thirty unmarried mothers born in Spanish American countries and thirty unmarried mothers born in the United States. All sixty mothers who were pregnant out-of-wedlock are former recipients of services offered by Catholic Welfare Bureau, Incorporated, Miami, Florida between May, 1951 and May, 1960"--Introduction.

Date Issued

1961

Identifier

FSU_ahn3810

Format

Thesis

Title

The Choctaw Club: Martin Behrman, Reform, and the Roots of Modern American Politics.

The proper role of government at all levels—local, state and federal—has been debated since the birth of the Republic. This project explores that debate by illustrating how a variety of social and political issues manifested themselves in the real life of New Orleans' longest serving mayor, Martin Behrman, and the lives of millions of other Americans, in the early twentieth century. Integral to the story of Martin Behrman's life is the tale of Storyville—the infamous red-light district—the... Show moreThe proper role of government at all levels—local, state and federal—has been debated since the birth of the Republic. This project explores that debate by illustrating how a variety of social and political issues manifested themselves in the real life of New Orleans' longest serving mayor, Martin Behrman, and the lives of millions of other Americans, in the early twentieth century. Integral to the story of Martin Behrman's life is the tale of Storyville—the infamous red-light district—the growth of the beer industry, and World War I. These matters were bound together in a ball of confusion surrounding the act of congress authorizing the war and its funding. Specifically, questions poured in from across the nation, asking which parts of American cities sailors could visit, whether or not sailors and soldiers were to be treated equally under the law, and even whether or not a civilian could buy a soldier a cold beer to say "thank you" for his service. In this way, the politics of beer, sex, and reform exploded across the United States. In Louisiana, these issues contributed to the defeat of Martin Behrman in the mayoral election of 1920, the weakening of the "Regular" political machine, and the ascent Huey Long, the "Kingfish." Many of the same legal and moral questions that were asked in 1915 are now asked in 2015 as presidential candidates jockey for position in the presidential primaries of both major parties. How much federal government intrusion into the private lives of citizens is appropriate, given the urgent need to protect the nation from terrorism? Which civil liberties may be encroached upon and to what extent? What is government's role in promoting public health, fair wages, and morality? What is the appropriate role of the federal government versus states and localities, especially during wartime? How do we handle the large numbers of immigrants flocking to our shores—from both a policy and rhetorical perspective? Answers to such questions constituted the political fault lines of the early twentieth century, as they do today. This study does not attempt to answer the policy questions above. Rather, it seeks to add context to debates surrounding them and to demonstrate their durability. The challenge is how to discuss these complex issues in a concise and cohesive manner. The author chose the political career of the longest serving mayor in the history of New Orleans to act as the glue that holds the narrative together. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_2015fall_Criss_fsu_0071E_12842

Format

Thesis

Title

The Closeted Autobiographer: Feminism, Religion, and Queerness in the Unstaged Closet Dramas of Djuna Barnes.

Throughout her time as a member of the famed Provincetown Players, for which she penned three successful plays, playwright Djuna Barnes simultaneously wrote twelve short closet dramas, none of which saw the light of the stage. Despite the fact that they were officially republished in the 1995 anthology At the Roots of The Stars: The Short Plays, edited by Douglass Messerli, scholarly criticism on these fascinatingly weird plays is all but non-existent. With this gap in mind, in this thesis I... Show moreThroughout her time as a member of the famed Provincetown Players, for which she penned three successful plays, playwright Djuna Barnes simultaneously wrote twelve short closet dramas, none of which saw the light of the stage. Despite the fact that they were officially republished in the 1995 anthology At the Roots of The Stars: The Short Plays, edited by Douglass Messerli, scholarly criticism on these fascinatingly weird plays is all but non-existent. With this gap in mind, in this thesis I analyze two of these short closet dramas: A Passion Play (1918), published in Others magazine, and Madame Collects Herself (1918), published in Parisienne. These two plays, read in conversation with the rest of Barnes’s work throughout the 1910s, crystalize the intersecting issues of gender, sexuality, and religion, which also have significant connections to the rest of Barnes’s canon. In this thesis, I address the following questions: How do these plays fit into the Barnes canon? What might their texts reveal as standalone works of closet drama? What might they reveal about the work and lives of women playwrights in the United States in the early 20th century? While there are many ways in which to approach these texts, I have specifically chosen the dual methodologies of Jill Dolan and Nick Salvato. Utilizing Jill Dolan’s latest book Wendy Wasserstein, a critical biography of the highly acclaimed second-wave feminist playwright, and Nick Salvato’s Uncloseting Drama: American Modernism and Queer Performance, I will combine two seemingly disparate methodological processes to form an analysis of these plays for the first time. Following the introductory chapter, chapter two will explore A Passion Play, a short drama that looks into the final night of sexual encounters between two prostitutes and the other two men hung on crosses alongside Jesus Christ during the Passion. In this chapter, I explore Barnes’s personal articulation of the binary (or lack thereof) of good and evil. Chapter three explores Madame Collects Herself, a gruesome, five-page comedy that takes place in a hair salon. I argue that Madame Collects Herself builds on the religious, sexual, and feminist themes found in A Passion Play, suggesting that Barnes’s closet dramas both serve as early examples of Barnes’s creative work and operate as intriguing examples of her interest in de-marginalizing those who were often seen as other. Show less

Date Issued

2018

Identifier

2018_Su_Andrews_fsu_0071N_14738

Format

Thesis

Title

Collegiate Symbols and Mascots of the American Landscape: Identity, Iconography, and Marketing.

The rise of college symbols and mascots related to the American landscape directly correlates with the rapid changes stemming from industrialization and urbanization occurring in American culture between the late-nineteenth century and first decades of the twentieth century. The loss of national identity attributed to the closing of the western frontier had a devastating effect on young white males in particular. The ensuing cultural crisis brought about by the wanton extirpation of wildlife... Show moreThe rise of college symbols and mascots related to the American landscape directly correlates with the rapid changes stemming from industrialization and urbanization occurring in American culture between the late-nineteenth century and first decades of the twentieth century. The loss of national identity attributed to the closing of the western frontier had a devastating effect on young white males in particular. The ensuing cultural crisis brought about by the wanton extirpation of wildlife and destruction of the natural environment led directly to the preservationist movement of the turn-of-the century. In the face of unparalleled immigration, fitness and the back-to-nature movement were believed to be instrumental in helping white American men avoid committing "race suicide." Nurtured by the teachings and philosophies of conservationists and preservationists, young white college men formed the first football teams and adopted symbols of the American landscape as a means of team identity. Because iconography makes for a powerful tool of identity and solidarity, students and college officials were likewise intrigued. Eager to quell unruly student behavior, college administrators—who had a more than contentious relationship with the student body throughout the late-nineteenth century—gladly assented. The profits soon realized from college sports and the pageantry surrounding it proved irresistible to colleges across the land. Consequently, by the early decades of the late-nineteenth century, numerous American college athletic teams began using mascots related to the American landscape and school colors to foment group solidarity. Show less

Date Issued

2018

Identifier

2018_Fall_DeSantis_fsu_0071E_14289

Format

Thesis

Title

A comparative study of music libraries and music departments of general libraries in the United States.

Creator

Siler, Frieda, Gregory, Agnes, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this study is to secure statistical data about music libraries and music departments of general libraries. Using the statistics as a basis, comparisons will be made on the number of each type of library (whether college library department, public library department, or independent music library), holdings in each, annual budgets for purchasing and maintaining collections, training of personnel, and remuneration of staff. The comparisons will not be made on administrative... Show more"The purpose of this study is to secure statistical data about music libraries and music departments of general libraries. Using the statistics as a basis, comparisons will be made on the number of each type of library (whether college library department, public library department, or independent music library), holdings in each, annual budgets for purchasing and maintaining collections, training of personnel, and remuneration of staff. The comparisons will not be made on administrative policies, cooperation with other music agencies, basis of materials selection, or use made of collections. While this information would be of value, it could not be developed accurately through an objective set of questions but rather from extended interviews with music librarians or by in-service experience in each library. Since this is not feasible, only those aspects will be considered which have to do with acquisition and maintenance of holdings, and the training and remuneration of staff. Geographical distribution of music libraries will be shown by the use of a map followed by a discussion of some reasons why they are located as they are"--Introduction. Show less

Date Issued

1950

Identifier

FSU_historic_ahd1121

Format

Thesis

Title

Comparison by states of features of inheritance and estate taxes.

Creator

Neuhauser, Jess B., Trembly, Edward D., Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this paper is to compare by states features of inheritance and estate taxes, and to attempt to forecast their probable future trend"--Introduction.

Date Issued

1953

Identifier

FSU_akp4954

Format

Thesis

Title

Consideration of the authors and periodicals represented in The best American short stories, 1931-1950.

Creator

Potter, Richard C., Clapp, Robert George, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

This paper examines the characteristics of The Best American Short Stories and the personalities reponsible for this series. More specifically, the goal of the paper is to add intelligence to the general store of knowledge in the area of the American short story, first, by demonstrating through statistics, biographical data and a summation of critical opinion the salient characteristics of the series; second, by giving statistical-analytical data relative to the periodicals furnishing the... Show moreThis paper examines the characteristics of The Best American Short Stories and the personalities reponsible for this series. More specifically, the goal of the paper is to add intelligence to the general store of knowledge in the area of the American short story, first, by demonstrating through statistics, biographical data and a summation of critical opinion the salient characteristics of the series; second, by giving statistical-analytical data relative to the periodicals furnishing the selections; third, by presenting statistical-biographical characteristics of the authors contributing to the series; and fourth, by making a biographical examination of the important personalities intimately associated with the series. Show less

Date Issued

1957

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9033

Format

Thesis

Title

The contribution of Laura Ingalls Wilder to the field of literature for children.

Creator

Himes, Mae, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The purpose of this paper is to present the life and works of Laura Ingalls Wilder with special attention paid to those influences that have given her work an enduring quality and to give a critical evaluation of her work as found in reviews written by experts in the field of children's literature"--Introduction.

Date Issued

1955

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9201

Format

Thesis

Title

The Controversy Surrounding Slave Insanity: The Diagnosis, Treatment and Lived Experience of Mentally Ill Slaves in the Antebellum South.

Focusing on the period from approximately 1800-1865, this thesis uses a historical conceptualist perspective to examine how psychiatric history intersects with the lived experience of slaves in the antebellum south. Unlike previous works that tell the history of psychiatry through the history of the asylum movement, this study seeks to emphasize how everyday Americans, from white physicians to slaves, conceptualized, discussed, diagnosed, and treated black insanity. In the process, this study... Show moreFocusing on the period from approximately 1800-1865, this thesis uses a historical conceptualist perspective to examine how psychiatric history intersects with the lived experience of slaves in the antebellum south. Unlike previous works that tell the history of psychiatry through the history of the asylum movement, this study seeks to emphasize how everyday Americans, from white physicians to slaves, conceptualized, discussed, diagnosed, and treated black insanity. In the process, this study illuminates the way the politics, beliefs, and culture of nineteenth-century society impacted the way Americans viewed black insanity. Moreover, the findings presented in this thesis attest to the pivotal role race, gender, and class played in both the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in the antebellum south. Hence, paying careful attention to the politics of the time, this study focuses on the highly contested and flexible process that was conceptualizing, diagnosing, quantifying, and treating black insanity in the antebellum south, and encourages readers to consider how the label “insane” impacted the life of an afflicted slave and their community. Show less

Date Issued

2018

Identifier

2018_Sp_Simon_fsu_0071N_14534

Format

Thesis

Title

Crawl Out through the Fallout?: Civil Defense, the Cold War, and American Memory.

Frequently dismissed in popular culture, "civil defense" conjures images of Bert the Turtle cheerfully retreating into his shell after a cartoon explosion. Though Bert's advice was meant for children, there were countless versions of the message geared towards an adult audience. Surely, some historians argue, such information was made available to the public out of a desire to make them feel safe when in reality there was nothing that they could do in the face of a nuclear attack on the... Show moreFrequently dismissed in popular culture, "civil defense" conjures images of Bert the Turtle cheerfully retreating into his shell after a cartoon explosion. Though Bert's advice was meant for children, there were countless versions of the message geared towards an adult audience. Surely, some historians argue, such information was made available to the public out of a desire to make them feel safe when in reality there was nothing that they could do in the face of a nuclear attack on the United States. Such studies echo popular objections to civil defense of its day, which treated the issue with satire or even fatalism. Focusing initially on Florida, this thesis will explore the roots of contemporary views of civil defense, and argues that they arose out of fundamentally different narratives of survival between those working in civil defense and the general public. Furthermore, this thesis traces the development of both official and public narratives into contemporary cultural memory, where the fears and concerns surrounding civil defense have endured beyond the Cold War. I draw from the internal communications and after action reports of Florida's own civil defense agency, as well as their interactions with the national office of civil defense. These expressions of a practical narrative for surviving a nuclear war do not answer the concerns of the public. The American people were by far more occupied in trying to discern the nonmaterial costs of the civil defense program. In order to outline these concerns, I utilize primarily materials which would have been readily available to the public, especially newspapers and periodicals. These materials include reporting on the state of civil defense nationally speaking, as well as popular editorials and articles which entered the civil defense debate directly. In the third section, I approach cultural and collective memories through popular movies and novels. By comparing selected works of nuclear apocalyptic fiction from the 1950s and 1960s to more recent offerings, it becomes apparent that not only are the same fears at play, they have grown more intense with time, if anything. Though many now think of civil defense as a quaint reminder of a tense era gone by, the collective understanding of it that Americans expressed and acquired through popular culture indicate that it was anything but. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_2017SP_Storey_fsu_0071N_13748

Format

Thesis

Title

The crisis of democracy in the United States, 1929-1939.

Creator

Pierce, William Henry, Applewhite, Marjorie Mendenhall, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

The period from 1929 to 1939 was selected as the time for study because it was during this time that democracy, as we knew it in the United States, was confronted with two dire threats: the likelihood of complete internal economic collapse and growing success for anti-democratic "isms" in Europe. It is the purpose of this paper to bring together what is considered to be the most representative thinking on the causes and effects of the crisis and to see what features of the crisis have been... Show moreThe period from 1929 to 1939 was selected as the time for study because it was during this time that democracy, as we knew it in the United States, was confronted with two dire threats: the likelihood of complete internal economic collapse and growing success for anti-democratic "isms" in Europe. It is the purpose of this paper to bring together what is considered to be the most representative thinking on the causes and effects of the crisis and to see what features of the crisis have been permanent in nature and what may have been learned from the crisis that might help in preventing a recurrence. Show less

Identifier

FSU_akw1832

Format

Thesis

Title

A Critical Evaluation of Alternative Methods and Paradigms for Conducting Mediation Analysis in Operations Management Research.

Mediation as a theory testing approach has witnessed considerable adoption among Operations Management (OM) researchers. Although mediation-testing methods have evolved tremendously in the past decade, their dissemination in the OM field has not seen parallel growth. These advanced techniques facilitate the testing of existing and complex hypotheses in a more precise manner. With the intent of critically evaluating existing and alternative methods for conducting mediation analysis needed to... Show moreMediation as a theory testing approach has witnessed considerable adoption among Operations Management (OM) researchers. Although mediation-testing methods have evolved tremendously in the past decade, their dissemination in the OM field has not seen parallel growth. These advanced techniques facilitate the testing of existing and complex hypotheses in a more precise manner. With the intent of critically evaluating existing and alternative methods for conducting mediation analysis needed to support sophisticated empirical research, this paper first reviews OM studies that tested for mediation in the past eleven years (2002-2012) from top-tier OM journals. Four commonly used mediation approaches were identified. Based on principles of good theory building, type of mediation model, and properties of empirical data, we evaluate the existing methodologies and make recommendations on how to improve the rigor of OM mediation testing. Using published OM studies in top journals as examples, we then illustrate the relevance and advantages of these recommendations, as well as their ease of use. Furthermore, we empirically show that more robust and insightful results can be achieved by adopting these techniques, which in turn have the promise of leading to better theory building and testing in the field of operations management. Show less

Date Issued

2014

Identifier

FSU_migr_dm_faculty_publications-0024, 10.1016/j.jom.2014.01.003

Format

Citation

Title

Cut from Different Cloth: The USS Constitution and the American Frigate Fleet.

The historiography of the early American navy and, more definitively, the USS Constitution's role in American consciousness revolve around the valorous acts associated with the naval engagement between the Constitution and the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812. The basis for this mass public appeal was presented, disseminated, and perpetuated by historians, journalists, and popular writers. Paralleling historical and popular works, the public perception of the Constitution and the prowess... Show moreThe historiography of the early American navy and, more definitively, the USS Constitution's role in American consciousness revolve around the valorous acts associated with the naval engagement between the Constitution and the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812. The basis for this mass public appeal was presented, disseminated, and perpetuated by historians, journalists, and popular writers. Paralleling historical and popular works, the public perception of the Constitution and the prowess of America's frigate fleet as a whole subsequently rose to dizzying heights after the War of 1812—based on the evidence emanating from a single naval engagement that lasted just over half an hour. This work seeks to examine how the Constitution ascended to such great military heights when all the odds were against American naval hegemony following the Revolutionary War. By comparing and contrasting naval correspondence, captain's logs, and ship records associated with America's original frigate fleet, a better sense of the collective biographies of the six frigates will be achieved; and, in the process, lend greater perspective to the history of the early American Navy. The methodology of this dissertation is to view the American Navy through the lens of the captains, officers, and crew that served on the Constitution. While this study looks to add insight into naval development by comparing and contrasting each of the original six American frigates, the USS Constitution is at the center of the investigation. This is a case study that utilizes the Constitution as a means to view and balance the successes and failures of the early American Navy. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_2015fall_Byington_fsu_0071E_12858

Format

Thesis

Title

Dancing Americana: Choreographing Visions of American Identity from the Stage to the Screen, 1936-1958.

This dissertation examines concert dance, Broadway musicals, and film musicals from the mid-1930s to the early Cold War period, exploring how choreographers, directors, and performers expressed American nationalism through dance. Nationalism in dance transferred from the ballet stage during the buildup and early years of World War II to Broadway and Hollywood musicals in the mid-1940s to late 1950s. This shift brought Americana dances to a wider audience--the concert dance audience was small... Show moreThis dissertation examines concert dance, Broadway musicals, and film musicals from the mid-1930s to the early Cold War period, exploring how choreographers, directors, and performers expressed American nationalism through dance. Nationalism in dance transferred from the ballet stage during the buildup and early years of World War II to Broadway and Hollywood musicals in the mid-1940s to late 1950s. This shift brought Americana dances to a wider audience--the concert dance audience was small and elite, but the audience for movies was larger and more diverse. In addition to analysis of the dancing, this dissertation utilizes the papers of choreographers, Broadway publicists' scrapbooks, the records of the Production Code Administration, film preview audience surveys, reviews, letters, and interviews. Frontier figures and servicemen were already a part of American identity before cowboy ballets and tap dancing sailor movies; however, dancing made these figures come to life for audiences, wrapping up ideology in attractive, virtuosic performance. Nationalism in dance intersected with personal artistic expression, censorship, government policy, critical response, and audience reaction. As the audience grew, so did concerns over mediating the messages presented. Dance was a part of U.S. diplomacy, propaganda, and identity. This dissertation contributes to the current scholarship on dance and nationalism because it spans across concert dance, popular culture, and mass media, linking multiple disciplines in the process. Show less

Date Issued

2014

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9144

Format

Thesis

Title

Dancing with a Ghost: Reckoning with the Legacy of Racial Vioelnce in North Florida in the 1920s.

This work employs historical memory as a theoretical framework in which to explore racial violence in Florida in the 1920s. Focusing on Baker County and Taylor County, I explore the ways in which white memory was (and is) commemorated in public spaces while black memory is often relegated to a more private sphere. Because black memory is underrepresented in archives and public spaces, black citizens and their experiences have been, in many ways, left out of the historical record. In both... Show moreThis work employs historical memory as a theoretical framework in which to explore racial violence in Florida in the 1920s. Focusing on Baker County and Taylor County, I explore the ways in which white memory was (and is) commemorated in public spaces while black memory is often relegated to a more private sphere. Because black memory is underrepresented in archives and public spaces, black citizens and their experiences have been, in many ways, left out of the historical record. In both communities, violent atrocities were committed against African Americans who lived there. I explore the long-term effects of these incidents and how local residents continue to contend with or commemorate their past. This work also examines how memories concerning racial violence and southern identity are created and maintained. Show less

This paper examines the Emerging Church Movement (ECM), a milieu of progressive evangelical groups focused upon the inclusion of postmodern ideas and concepts into evangelical Christian structures. The argument in this paper is that, as a movement geared towards resistance to evangelicalism, the ECM is in fact working within a tradition of evangelical social organization. In the first section, a historiographic review is conducted, focusing particularly on the way historians have used... Show moreThis paper examines the Emerging Church Movement (ECM), a milieu of progressive evangelical groups focused upon the inclusion of postmodern ideas and concepts into evangelical Christian structures. The argument in this paper is that, as a movement geared towards resistance to evangelicalism, the ECM is in fact working within a tradition of evangelical social organization. In the first section, a historiographic review is conducted, focusing particularly on the way historians have used descriptions of conflict to describe and define evangelicalism in the twentieth century. This reflection identifies previously unmarked connections between progressive evangelical organizations in the 1970s and 1980s with early ECM activities in the 1990s. The second section of the paper offers a formal definition of the ECM, and works to highlight common ECM practices that have emerged as a result of the emphasis upon deconstruction and postmodernity. From this perspective, the ECM is described as a milieu, in the tradition of sociologist Colin Campbell’s “cultic milieu,” on the basis of the presence of mysticism, seekership, and syncretism in ECM practice. The final section of the paper analyzes the ECM in conjunction with broader trends in American culture in the twenty-first century. The effect the events of September 11, 2001 had on American culture are taken into account, and the connection between the growth of the ECM and the condition of being ‘post-9/11’ are considered. Given the ECM’s stance on issues relating to authority, theological rigidity, and the politics of the Religious Right, the ECM, it is argued, was poised to find success, in terms of participation levels, in post-9/11 American culture. In the conclusion, the decline of ECM activity is considered alongside the election of President Obama and the so-called “Rise of the Nones.” Show less

Date Issued

2016

Identifier

FSU_2016SU_Sweatman_fsu_0071N_13339

Format

Thesis

Title

Distant Music: Recorded Music, Manners, and American Identity.

Creator

Attaway, Jacklyn, Faulk, Barry J., Jumonville, Neil, McGregory, Jerrilyn, Program in American and Florida Studies, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

This thesis discusses Derrida's theory of Hauntology, establishes a theoretical framework for an analysis of the hauntological aesthetic in recorded music, and explores the hauntological aesthetic in reference to Victorian spirit photography and contemporary recorded music of producer-musicians such as Greg Ashley, Jason Quever, Tim Presley, and Ariel Pink. By describing and analyzing the recorded music of said producer-musicians, this thesis reveals how aesthetically hauntological recorded... Show moreThis thesis discusses Derrida's theory of Hauntology, establishes a theoretical framework for an analysis of the hauntological aesthetic in recorded music, and explores the hauntological aesthetic in reference to Victorian spirit photography and contemporary recorded music of producer-musicians such as Greg Ashley, Jason Quever, Tim Presley, and Ariel Pink. By describing and analyzing the recorded music of said producer-musicians, this thesis reveals how aesthetically hauntological recorded music expresses American anxieties concerning the effects of changing technologies and cultural transitions. In effect, this thesis shows how American ideologies operate as "ghosts," and how one can better interpret and understand these core values by combining aesthetics and history through the medium of recorded music. Show less

Date Issued

2012

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-5315

Format

Thesis

Title

The dividend books of the Book-of-the-Month Club: An appraisal and an evaluation.

Creator

Kent, Emma Ruth, Clapp, Robert George, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

The phenomenal rise in the number of book clubs in the United States in the past twenty-five years has resulted in much being written and said on the subject of their value. The success of these clubs has raised fears in the minds of some people that books may soon be tailored less to art than to the requirements of the clubs' mass audience. The success that the clubs have had in getting the American people to buy books when the booksellers and others have failed, can probably be attributed... Show moreThe phenomenal rise in the number of book clubs in the United States in the past twenty-five years has resulted in much being written and said on the subject of their value. The success of these clubs has raised fears in the minds of some people that books may soon be tailored less to art than to the requirements of the clubs' mass audience. The success that the clubs have had in getting the American people to buy books when the booksellers and others have failed, can probably be attributed to one key word that is found in the publicity of all the clubs: "free." A controversy about the use of the word "free" has been raging for the last few years between the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Federal Trade Commission. The Commissioners were unable to agree with the Book-of-the-Month Club's contention that statements contained in the advertisements, disclosing those things which the customer must do in order to receive the so-called "free" books, "neutralize the probability or possibility of deception." The purpose of this paper is not, however, to discuss the controversy of the Book-of-the-Month Club versus the Federal Trade Commission, or to be concerned with the free or bonus aspect of any club's promotional endeavors. Its purpose is to consider whether or not books so obtained are worth having, be they "free," bonus, or priced, and whether or not they are creditable selections. In considering the question of dividend books it obviously would be desirable to evaluate the books distributed by all book clubs, but this would not be a project with a range of accomplishment within the scope of this paper. It was, therefore, decided to take as a specimen the divident books of one such club and to attempt to adjudge on the basis of critical opinion their merits. Show less

Date Issued

1952

Identifier

FSU_historic_akd9040

Format

Thesis

Title

Education for leisure time through the school curriculum which will meet the needs of our changing society.

Creator

Hughes, Wayne W., Strickland, Virgil E., Florida State University

Abstract/Description

The purpose of this paper is primarily that of determining what recreational needs exist today, what social changes have occurred to bring about these needs, what unit of society is most capable of taking the lead in meeting these needs, and what procedures may be adopted for meeting them. An interest in this subject has stemmed from observation of two main factors: (1) The existence of inadequate programs for meeting recreational needs in schools with which the writer has been associated,... Show moreThe purpose of this paper is primarily that of determining what recreational needs exist today, what social changes have occurred to bring about these needs, what unit of society is most capable of taking the lead in meeting these needs, and what procedures may be adopted for meeting them. An interest in this subject has stemmed from observation of two main factors: (1) The existence of inadequate programs for meeting recreational needs in schools with which the writer has been associated, and (2) General indifference to or ignorance of the importance of educating for worthwhile use of leisure time. Show less

In the nineteenth century, American Transcendentalists and other environmental religionists redefined notions of religion, nature, and humanity as a creative and sometimes effective means to manage the various social, cultural, and intellectual crises of their age. They attempted this largely through their literary output, scientific undertakings, and political discourse - all of which served as strategies and tactics to compensate for areas where they found institutionalized religion to be... Show moreIn the nineteenth century, American Transcendentalists and other environmental religionists redefined notions of religion, nature, and humanity as a creative and sometimes effective means to manage the various social, cultural, and intellectual crises of their age. They attempted this largely through their literary output, scientific undertakings, and political discourse - all of which served as strategies and tactics to compensate for areas where they found institutionalized religion to be lacking. The result - what I coin environmental religion - was a non-reductive ecological materialism that replaced the German idealism of American Transcendentalism's metaphysical forebears. Moreover, the environmental religion they fashioned provided the framework for today's radical environmentalists and other likeminded groups. This dissertation calls for a reconsideration of the disciplinary horizon of nature religion in North American history and culture. In support of this call, I analyze the historical underpinnings of what I term environmental religion by focusing on the first and second generation of American Transcendentalists. By environmental religion I refer to an integrated network of beliefs, practices, and lifestyles by which individuals and groups gave meaning to (or found meaning in) their lives by orienting themselves to nature - the physical planet as well as that perceived to be "natural" and therefore authentic, pristine, unmanufactured, unspoiled - which they believed to be of the highest value. This work therefore seeks to draw connections between aspects in America's religious history that have remained thus far unearthed. Defining environmental religion as I have done - by focusing on a reverent orientation to nature that conceives the "natural" to be of the highest value - provides for the study of a wide range of subjects, groups, and individuals who were nonetheless connected by a deferential and awe-inspired response to nature, the environment, and the material world. In short, by concentrating on what I call environmental religion, I provide a new perspective on American Transcendentalism. However, I also trace powerful and prevalent - yet largely unexamined - trends, themes, and movements coursing through American history and culture. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9324

Format

Thesis

Title

Escaping the Mechanism: Soldier Fraternization Throughout the American Civil War.

"Escaping the Mechanism: Soldier Fraternization throughout the American Civil War," contributes to the rich scholarship on Civil War soldiers because one cannot fully understand the nature of the war experience, without also knowing how soldiers controlled some conditions of their existence. Although it was strictly forbidden, Union and Confederate soldiers fraternized with each other often as an escape from the monotony and routine of encampment, drills, and marching. When citizen soldiers... Show more"Escaping the Mechanism: Soldier Fraternization throughout the American Civil War," contributes to the rich scholarship on Civil War soldiers because one cannot fully understand the nature of the war experience, without also knowing how soldiers controlled some conditions of their existence. Although it was strictly forbidden, Union and Confederate soldiers fraternized with each other often as an escape from the monotony and routine of encampment, drills, and marching. When citizen soldiers experienced war, and its limits, they perpetuated this behavior by testing restrictions. As an outlet of resistance and an expression of choice, a "culture of fraternalism" formulated as soldiers attempted to grasp control after the psychological and physical damage of war shattered their metaphysical world. Because mental and physical challenges chipped away at soldier morale, men found ways to push back against the system. Soldiers needed an escape. Thus, enemies organized ceasefires, truces, and a trading network in order to remain in control of their world and escape the "mechanism" of military life. Fraternization deserves its own attention both in terms of its frequency in soldiers' manuscripts and implication as a coping mechanism, but also because its significance is dismissed or minimized by leading Civil War scholars. Several Civil War historians acknowledge that fraternization happened but either categorize soldiers who did as uncommitted or bypass the reason why it occurred so often. Based on my extensive reading of soldiers' letters and diaries from eleven archives in seven states, I argue that soldiers fraternized in order to fight the war on their own terms through subtle forms of dissent. In viewing fraternization as a method by which soldiers reaffirmed their own control and escaped the military mechanism, the implications of fraternization are worthy of further investigation and can no longer be sidestepped. Just because soldiers remained ideologically committed, does not suggest they were without physical and mental privation. Soldiers found alternative ways to assert their own autonomy in order to cope with the harsh realities of army life. To understand how soldiers shaped their circumstances through fraternization, the points where it happened most frequently and the challenges particular to that campaign will be analyzed in detail. Chapter 1 depicts how soldiers developed a culture of fraternalism. An accurate study of Civil War soldiers cannot begin in 1861. Men came to war with traditions, experiences, and values from a world before they were soldiers. In particular, soldiers embodied two important cultural notions of antebellum society. When men faced limits to their potential or independence they dealt with them through outlets of fraternity and resistance. Because soldiers' ability to fraternize was dependent upon their tactical position, on picket duty in proximity to one another or in trenches during a siege, the culture of fraternalism waxed and waned throughout the war. The points where extensive fraternization occurred merit its own attention. Chapter 2 focuses on the first, and arguably most documented, instance of widespread fraternization which took place during the Fredericksburg Campaign. Men who fought in armies throughout the Western Theatre of the Civil War also created and upheld a culture of fraternalism. Chapter 3 analyzes the major occasions of fraternization which occurred along the vast territory between the Mississippi River and the eastern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains particularly during the Siege at Vicksburg, Tennessee Campaign, and Atlanta Campaign. This chapter illustrates that although men in these armies came from different states and encountered different obstacles, their development of fraternization occurred simultaneously to their comrades in Virginia as a means to shape their environment. Chapter 4 shifts focus back to eastern Virginia in the summer of 1864. When the Overland Campaign resulted in a siege at Petersburg, Virginia, the armies of Northern Virginia and the Potomac experienced a new set of conditions. While gridlocked at Petersburg for eleven months, men on both sides dealt with side effects of siege warfare. The culture of fraternalism continued through the trade of commodities and newspapers but most importantly during this siege was a continual and intricate arrangement of ceasefires to placate the constant sense of anxiety and necessity to "be on guard." Chapter 5 follows soldiers into their lives as veterans in attempt to understand how they shaped the remembrance of their service. Just as men constructed ways to fight the war on their own terms, veterans used their "power of the pen" to document their experience. Rather than dismissing postwar soldier accounts of fraternization as a consequence of reunionist propaganda, perhaps soldiers wrote about their interaction with the enemy because they deemed it worthy of remembrance. In synthesizing the broader historiography on masculinity, identity, and military experience with fraternization, this study demonstrates not simply why soldiers fought but rather how they utilized tactics, terrain, and commodities to make their service more manageable. What these chapters contend is that regardless of campaign or theatre, ideologically committed soldiers were able to remain dedicated because of opportunities, like fraternization, to assert their own control over the war. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-9469

Format

Thesis

Title

Establishing Disestablishment: Federal Support for Religion in the Early Republic.

This project considers the relationship between religion and politics in the early republic period of the United States. The goal of this project is to uncover the ways the inchoate federal government provided support for religion in an era when disestablishment is the law of the land. Using the lens provides a new and distinct way to understand how the federal government interpreted and applied the concept of disestablishment as seen in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. I argue... Show moreThis project considers the relationship between religion and politics in the early republic period of the United States. The goal of this project is to uncover the ways the inchoate federal government provided support for religion in an era when disestablishment is the law of the land. Using the lens provides a new and distinct way to understand how the federal government interpreted and applied the concept of disestablishment as seen in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. I argue that the federal government, while never formally endorsing a particular denomination, recognized and supported an underlying common Protestant ethos centered around biblicism to both develop and disrupt aspects of religious freedom in the early republic. Such a balancing act was necessitated by competing religious denominations in different states; ideals of both Protestant dissent and enlightenment rationality; and the fragile nature of federal governance in the early republic that sought out security in the absence of previous colonial ideals. Because of all of this, cooperation between church and state was steady and active. But the nature of that cooperation, expressed in the disestablishment language of the First Amendment, reflected a new reality distinct from European Christendom. The subjects of this project illustrate the diverse ways religion was supported by the government and show how the new reality of disestablishment was worked out in the developing federal bureaucracy. They include the postal service, which allowed for the dissemination of religious information through the mail at favorable rates; religious services held in the governmental buildings, especially the U.S. Capitol building; chaplaincy programs, both within Congress and the military; and federal policy regarding Native Americans, which included providing support for Christian missionaries in their goal of evangelization. Show less

"The purpose of this study was to identify factors that most influence prospective female volleyball student-athletes' selection of an NCAA Division I university. This research was an applied, cross-sectional study using a multi-method approach of collecting data using surveys and telephone interviews. The sample in this study was approximately 500 Division I female collegiate volleyball players from sixty-four universities"--Abstract.

Date Issued

1998

Identifier

FSU_B_Cecile_Reynuad

Format

Thesis

Title

Far from fields of glory: military operations in Florida during the Civil War, 1864-1865.

This project examines the changing shape of femininity and masculinity for Marines from World War I to the Korean War, focusing on the ways that the body serves as a canvas for demonstrating the negotiation of gender roles and the Marine Corps image. Gender has been a constant issue for the military. However, few historical studies consider the ways that the Marine Corps’ status as a particularly elite, masculine institution impacted the desired image of femininity for its female recruits and... Show moreThis project examines the changing shape of femininity and masculinity for Marines from World War I to the Korean War, focusing on the ways that the body serves as a canvas for demonstrating the negotiation of gender roles and the Marine Corps image. Gender has been a constant issue for the military. However, few historical studies consider the ways that the Marine Corps’ status as a particularly elite, masculine institution impacted the desired image of femininity for its female recruits and how this image changed over time. The hyper-masculine nature of the military influenced the relationship between masculinity and femininity for both servicemen and women. My project looks at these changes in masculinity and femininity by placing gender identity within the context of the hyper-masculine military environment. R.W. Connell’s Masculinities, Anthony Rotundo’s American Manhood, and Aaron Belkin’s Bring Me Men assist in putting gender identity in the military into a more complex and nuanced context, especially focusing on masculinity’s centrality to the American military institution. Belkin, in particular, argues that military masculinity has never been entirely devoid of feminine elements. Aspects of femininity have long been a part of military life, from domestic responsibilities often associated with women to close same sex companionship between soldiers. While generally considered less masculine when taken as separate behaviors, they did not seem problematic in a military context. This leads to the conclusion that the incorporation of women into the military was not a radical introduction of femininity into a solely masculine environment, but rather a more complicated shift in the relationship between gender and occupation. This project’s conclusions support this kind of closer relationship between masculinity and femininity in the military context. Francine D’Amico and Laurie Weinstein’s Gender Camouflage, Melissa Ming Foynes, Jillian C. Shipherd, and Ellen F. Harrington’s “Race and Gender Discrimination in the Marines,” Melissa S. Herbert’s Camouflage Isn’t Only for Combat, Heather J. Höpfl’s “Becoming a (Virile) Member: Women and the Military Body,” Leisa D. Meyer’s Creating GI Jane, and Sara L. Zeigler and Gregory G. Gunderson’s Moving Beyond GI Jane address this shift in gender relations and the resulting tension between military men and women throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries I investigate changes in military gender identity by looking at legislation and regulations controlling gender and sexuality in the military, media depictions of Marines, and the ways that gendered military identity plays out on the body, especially through physical fitness, uniforms, and bodily maintenance. The Marine Corps documented their ideas of normative masculine and feminine Marine bodies through pictures, propaganda, and newsletters. Examination of these different characteristics of the ideal body allow for comparison through time of the ways that Marines presented themselves to society, as well as the methods the Corps utilized to encourage images advantageous to its purposes. Such comparisons show changes in the perception of gender identity through time, as well as new norms of appearance and behavior that developed. This evidence illustrates the complicated and often contradictory relationship between masculinity and femininity that all Marines, male and female, negotiate. This project illustrates the significance of these frequently gendered representations of Marine bodies through time. They show the negotiation of gender within the Corps and how assumptions of gender roles shifted from one war to the next. Understanding these changes helps explain the tensions and conflicts which developed between male and female Marines during different periods, as well as creating a framework for investigating these tensions into the contemporary era. The primary sources used for this project focus on the appearance of Marines, male and female, and include national legislation related to Marines and military regulations enforcing conformity in dress and appearance. Memoirs of Marines, publications intended for Marine readers, as well as publications depicting Marines aid in gaining a better idea of the function of gender for Marines, especially in relation to their interactions between male and female Marines. These documents show the changes occurring in expectations about femininity and masculinity in the Marine Corps over time. Public publications, such as general interest magazines, women’s magazines, and newspapers, showed public ideas of Marines’ gender and their relationship to civilian American gender ideals. This project explores the changing shape of normative Marine Corps bodies and the impact of ideas of masculinity and femininity in their deployment as methods of supporting the services’ goals. Show less

Date Issued

2019

Identifier

2019_Spring_Patterson_fsu_0071E_14978

Format

Thesis

Title

Friends of American Writers book award.

Creator

Wells, Rebecca M., Reed, Sarah Rebecca, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"Since an award is an indication that someone believes a book is superior or significant in some respect, knowledge of literary prizes is of obvious value to a librarian responsible for the selection of suitable books to meet patrons' needs and interests. With this in mind I have undertaken a study of the annual book award of the Friends of American Writers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the prize and the F.A.W. Award books since 1948, when a change in policy raised the annual book... Show more"Since an award is an indication that someone believes a book is superior or significant in some respect, knowledge of literary prizes is of obvious value to a librarian responsible for the selection of suitable books to meet patrons' needs and interests. With this in mind I have undertaken a study of the annual book award of the Friends of American Writers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the prize and the F.A.W. Award books since 1948, when a change in policy raised the annual book award to $1,000, to examine the prize-winning books in relation to the opinion of the critics, to determine the meaning of 'high ideals' as expressed by the group offering the award, and to find how the prize-winning selections are chosen"--Introduction. Show less

Roberts, Rebecca, Davis, Frederick, Fenstermaker, John, Bickley, Bruce, Program in American and Florida Studies, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

This thesis examines extinct or vanishing towns along Florida's northwest coast, specifically communities in Wakulla and Levy Counties, that experienced a boom to bust phenomena between Florida's territorial period and the early twentieth century. The exceptional growth of the selected areas prospered largely due to an abundance of seemingly inexhaustible natural resources. The towns withered and disappeared when industrialization depleted the natural resources or when populations shifted... Show moreThis thesis examines extinct or vanishing towns along Florida's northwest coast, specifically communities in Wakulla and Levy Counties, that experienced a boom to bust phenomena between Florida's territorial period and the early twentieth century. The exceptional growth of the selected areas prospered largely due to an abundance of seemingly inexhaustible natural resources. The towns withered and disappeared when industrialization depleted the natural resources or when populations shifted according to changes in land availability and mandated land use. Lumberyards sometimes demanded specific wood for manufacture and harvested a species to decimation within a geographical area. Sawmill owners bought non-contiguous land or leased other nearby lands to meet the increasing need for production. Early Gulf Coast railroads tended to follow the path of high-yield lumber mills and commodified natural products. Newly implemented laws often changed the methods of available collection, and consumption of resources and became another factor in whether a town thrived or died. Small, independent commercial fishermen abandoned their livelihoods when new net bans challenged their authority. Hunting resorts closed in consequence of federal land purchases. The Civil War changed forever the labor force behind cotton production. Southerners who viewed slaves as just another limitless resource had to reevaluate their lifestyles. Even the old planters and slave owners who could readjust morally and socially were unable to realign themselves financially and the death of their beneficent town soon followed. Freedmen left their master's land when and if opportunity arose in favor of newer or black-cultured communities. An out-migration of freedmen could lead to the death of post Civil War towns. The demise of many southern ghost towns is often attributed to technological advances and progress bypassing the sleepier little villages, but this theory diminishes, if not totally dismisses the agency of a single person, or a select group of people, to make or challenge decisions contributing to the boom or bust of a particular settlement. It is true that the areas studied often witnessed a loss of transportation services and outward migration in favor of larger or newer sites, but a breach usually appeared in the town's power-structure long before population loss. Larger political, social, and economic forces working outside of the geographical area of a future ghost town were not truly as powerful as might be expected. Instead, the decisions of a relatively small group of citizens, who often had contacts with people connected to larger government forces, made decisions independently of a town council and greatly contributed to the sometimes gradual and sometimes swift extinction of their own districts. The town's lack of a powerful force could be equally devastating if the area received no external representation. Show less

Revising earlier historical interpretations of the Ghost Dance, this dissertation traces the religion's emergence as an American Indian prophet movement and describes its intersections with evangelical Protestantism and Mormonism in the Far West from the mid-nineteenth century to the late-twentieth century. This project problematizes earlier studies by taking a longer view of Ghost Dance religion and incorporating its engagement with and resistance to Protestantism and Mormonism into the... Show moreRevising earlier historical interpretations of the Ghost Dance, this dissertation traces the religion's emergence as an American Indian prophet movement and describes its intersections with evangelical Protestantism and Mormonism in the Far West from the mid-nineteenth century to the late-twentieth century. This project problematizes earlier studies by taking a longer view of Ghost Dance religion and incorporating its engagement with and resistance to Protestantism and Mormonism into the narrative. It also seeks to correct interpretations that focus solely on the Ghost Dance's 1890 manifestation and the violence of federal suppression at Wounded Knee, thereby eliding the movement's broader cultural context before and after the massacre. By examining the confluence of historical encounters, political forces, and the perceptions they engendered, this study distinguishes Ghost Dance religion from other American Indian prophet movements and demonstrates how its 1890 and 1973 manifestations marked crisis points in American history through which national authority was exerted and thereby consolidated. By reconceptualizing American history through Native American history, this dissertation also discloses the union of religion and politics at work in the Ghost Dance and the prophetic traditions of its major competitors as they sought to enshrine their own versions of American nationalism in the West. The first chapter of this project aims to situate its contribution by discussing how reactions to the violence at Wounded Knee in 1890 shaped the historiography of the Ghost Dance movement and constrained interpretations of the movement in significant ways. Chapter two traces the emergence of Ghost Dance religion to the activity of the Bannock Prophet and his efforts to forge an alliance between American Indians and Mormons in opposition to U.S. rule at the start of the Utah War in 1857. Chapter three details the general war against whites in the West that results from the collapse of Bannock and Mormon efforts to unite as a single people through their perceived prophetic affinities. Through the examination of this conflict, the study reveals how religious identities are performed through violence – a process that results in the emergence of highly politicized and radicalized national identities. Chapter four connects manifestations of the Ghost Dance in the late 1860s and early 1870s to this tradition of spirited resistance to U.S. authority, demonstrating how Ghost Dance adherents ordered their opposition to white rule through a powerful fusion of religious and social realities that galvanized collective identity and motivated action to create a new world. Chapter five adds to this discussion by narrating Ghost Dance manifestations of the late 1880s and early 1890s within this context to reveal the revolutionary potential inherent in Wovoka's prophetic ministry. This focus works to erode lines between militancy and quietism as well as politics and religion drawn in earlier studies, revealing how prophetic religion functions to create and to sustain national identity. The final chapter investigates the persistence of Ghost Dance religion into the twentieth century, tracing its history through the Saskatchewan Dakota's New Tidings community and the American Indian Movement's 1973 takeover of Wounded Knee. In examining how both groups express their connection to the radical millennialism of the nineteenth-century Lakota Ghost Dance, this study reveals how prophetic religion works to mediate political engagement in complex ways and further confirms the union of religion and politics within the Ghost Dance movement. Show less

Date Issued

2015

Identifier

FSU_2016SP_Heise_fsu_0071E_12930

Format

Thesis

Title

Graphic Imagery: Jewish American Comic Book Creators' Depictions of Class, Race, and Patriotism.

Creator

Yanes, Nicholas, Fenstermaker, John, Faulk, Barry, Stuckey-French, Ned, Program in American and Florida Studies, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

Comic books printed during the 1930s and 40s contained stories and characters that supported the New Deal and America's entry into World War II. Though comic books are typically seen solely as reflections of the decades; the comic books, in actuality, were propaganda for political stances. Moreover, these were the political stances of the Jewish Americans who built the comic book industry. While much of corporate America was terrified by FDR's New Deal policies, comic books supported the... Show moreComic books printed during the 1930s and 40s contained stories and characters that supported the New Deal and America's entry into World War II. Though comic books are typically seen solely as reflections of the decades; the comic books, in actuality, were propaganda for political stances. Moreover, these were the political stances of the Jewish Americans who built the comic book industry. While much of corporate America was terrified by FDR's New Deal policies, comic books supported the President. When war loomed on the horizon, comic book writers and artists sent patriotic superheroes to war long before the country became mobilized. Finally, the political dialogue taking place in comic books resonated with the American public because they were created in a time when patriotism was synonymous with sacrifice. Show less

Throughout American history, physicians and their close professional associates, including pharmacists, have been asked to participate in both public health and national security efforts. While these efforts are not inherently contradictory, some physicians within the medical community began to perceive them as such, especially following World War II. These physicians gave birth to an anti-nuclear “physicians’ movement” that challenged the notions of national security and used public health... Show moreThroughout American history, physicians and their close professional associates, including pharmacists, have been asked to participate in both public health and national security efforts. While these efforts are not inherently contradictory, some physicians within the medical community began to perceive them as such, especially following World War II. These physicians gave birth to an anti-nuclear “physicians’ movement” that challenged the notions of national security and used public health as a basis for doing so. They did this alongside two very important allies: natural scientists and concerned citizens, particularly middle-class women. This dissertation focuses on the two ways in which activist physicians were most directly tied to national security: as purveyors of information on the health effects of radiation (especially that resulting from nuclear testing) on people and the environment, and as participants in civil defense programs and exercises. Cold War physicians and pharmacists were expected to be the arbiters of information concerning the physical impacts of nuclear testing on Americans. Indeed, civil defense programs often described them as the “liaison” between the science community and the general public. Consequently, those within the “physicians’ movement” used their positions to challenge nuclear testing through medical activism. The Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), alongside various other anti-nuclear groups like the Women Strike for Peace (WSP) and Committee for Nuclear Information (CNI), presented information which contested the narratives of federal and state agencies, which often claimed that radioactive levels resulting from nuclear testing remained and would continue to remain safe for Americans. This challenge was largely manifest through the national conversation on the consequences of radioisotopes on public health, in particular Strontium 90 and Iodine 131. These radioisotopes fell from the skies in the form of fallout and worked their way back up food chains and into the American diet. This was especially disconcerting to young mothers, as infants and small children were particularly susceptible to these toxins. The “physicians’ movement” mobilized these radioisotopes and challenged civil defense throughout the early Cold War. Its leaders largely did so in the name of public health and were even credited by Kennedy’s science advisor, Jerome Wiesner, for their influence in garnishing American support for the passing of a Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) in 1963. The LTBT was a monumental achievement of the anti-nuclear movement, as it eliminated atmospheric (above ground or aquatic) nuclear testing in both the United States and the Soviet Union. While underground nuclear testing continued, and other nations soon entered the nuclear club, this legislation greatly limited the two largest nuclear powers from further contaminating the global atmosphere to the degree that they had in the early Cold War. During the early Cold war, physicians and pharmacists were also expected to continue the tradition of supporting and preparing for war on the home front via civil defense exercises and practices. With civil defense administrators shifting their focus from conventional toward nuclear arsenals following World War II, they also began to predict the disproportionate destruction of physicians in post-war scenarios. Pharmacists and others within the medical community were being trained to take the place of these theoretically deceased physicians in preparation for a post-attack environment. The idea that pharmacists could replace physicians in a post-nuclear environment, as proposed by civil defense planners, alerted some physicians that something must be done. In response, the PSR participated in several congressional hearings, influenced the narratives of other anti-nuclear groups, funded anti-nuclear media, and fostered citizen-science projects in order to challenge notions of civil defense and nuclear testing in the name of public health. Medical activism, however, did not end with the signing of the LTBT. The PSR, in particular, only grew stronger as the Reagan Revolution and heightened Cold War tensions rose in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The PSR mutated from a local and national organization into an international participant in the Freeze movement and the anti-nuclear resurgence of the early 1980s. Medical activists again used many of the same methods they had relied on during the early Cold War period to challenge militarism such as professional journals, newspaper editorials, and popular media. They also began to use newer forms of media. In particular, the PSR funded the airing of several well-known and influential anti-nuclear films, like Day After and Threads, which challenged the foundations of civil defense throughout the 1980s. The story of Cold War medical activism illuminates the various tensions which have existed, and continue to exist, which are fundamental to balancing the necessities of national security with those of public health. Show less

Date Issued

2018

Identifier

2019_Spring_Whitehurst_fsu_0071E_14837

Format

Thesis

Title

The history, organization, and purpose of the Heritage Club, with an analysis of its publications and a brief history of its affiliated organizations, the Limited Editions Club and the Heritage Press.

Creator

Borden, M. Page, Clapp, Robert George, Florida State University

Abstract/Description

"The greater the variety of people who succeed in unlocking the store-house to their intellectual heritages, the greater the bounty of the librarian. It is with these thoughts in mind that the present study is undertaken, the analysis and evaluation of the contribution of a single publishing house in the production and promotion of books characterized as 'the classics which are our heritage from the past in editions which are the heritage of the future.' The firm is the Heritage Press and its... Show more"The greater the variety of people who succeed in unlocking the store-house to their intellectual heritages, the greater the bounty of the librarian. It is with these thoughts in mind that the present study is undertaken, the analysis and evaluation of the contribution of a single publishing house in the production and promotion of books characterized as 'the classics which are our heritage from the past in editions which are the heritage of the future.' The firm is the Heritage Press and its outlet, the Heritage Club, an organization which may well be studied to ascertain its contributions to some readers' intellectual heritage. The first step will be to relate the history, purpose, and organization of the club. Next, by making use of the publisher's statements in the house organ, the Prospectus for the Eighteenth Series, 1953, the publications will be analyzed"--Introduction. Show less